Are you fit enough to be a US Marine?
Say the words US Marine and the image of a tough, muscled soldier who eats nails for breakfast comes to mind.
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Say the words US Marine and the image of a tough, muscled soldier who eats nails for breakfast comes to mind.
The long and lean fitness model look. Male or female, most of us aspire for this. That look of long, toned muscles that aren’t too bulky or too skinny equals body goals for an overwhelming majority. I often hear of people saying they are lifting light weights in order to achieve that toned and lean look. This school of thought is pervasive and has often been repeated, even by fitness trainers.
THE term “getting juiced” or juicing up” is bodybuilding slang for using anabolic steroids to build muscle mass, enhance athletic performance, or both. But, this rather unhealthy practice, which research has shown causes far more negative effects that greatly outweigh its benefits, is not the subject of today’s column.
IT’S a vicious cycle indeed. After the feasting in December, we resolve to look good in time for summer. With enough grit and hard work, it is likely that we hit our targets. But sometimes, we fall off the mark and come up just a bit short, or sometimes miss the mark by the widest of margins. We’ve given it our all, but sometimes, we just can’t seem to hit that sweet spot. But why? Here are some possible reasons:
Excess body fat is the most unwanted thing in this world. Ask anyone what their fitness goal is and, chances are, it will involve losing or burning fat. It is so reviled that no one ever thinks about what happens to it when we lose it. Good riddance, we say.
YOU’VE had your morning coffee and healthy power breakfast. Next on the day’s agenda is to finish off that killer workout. After all, it’s summer and you need to double up to look good for that planned beach trip.
Some people have avoided lifting weights, fearing it may make them look too big or bulky, when what they truly aspire for is a long and lean model-type look and not that of a bodybuilder.
IT’S summertime and we’re once again in a rush to get in shape to look good at the beach. As we strive to avoid certain food items that will obviously derail our fitness goals, some items on the menu may not seem to be as harmful, but may nonetheless derail our quest for ripped summer bodies.
ARMING ourselves with the proper knowledge is a crucial component of living out a life of fitness. On the opposite end of the spectrum, embracing erroneous information may hinder us from reaching our fitness goals.
That first step may, indeed, be the most difficult one to take in successfully embarking on your fitness journey.
SNACKING, for the most part, has been perceived as the bad guy. When we think snacks, instantly our minds conjure images of bags of chips, doughnuts and various processed foods. Indeed, unhealthy snack habits have led to weight gain and obesity for a lot of us.
FOOD is primarily fuel. We are able to function on account of what we put into our bodies. An integral part of meeting our respective fitness goals is making proper nutrition choices in support of what we hope to achieve.
Before undertaking an exercise program, most especially one that will involve cardiovascular exercises, such as running and cycling, among others, it is important to understand the concept of monitoring our heart rates—or the number of times our hearts beat per minute—in order to help us achieve our fitness objectives and exercise in a safe manner.
WHAT exactly does it mean to be fit? Are there universal measures that determine whether one deserves to be labeled a fit individual?
Everyone will have their own idea about weight loss. “Just stop eating rice,” says your coworker. “Do sits-ups every day,” says your uncle, with absolute confidence in his folksy wisdom. Others will tell you that this or that supplement will have you shedding fat in no time. Then there are the various diets and eating techniques: Atkins, Paleo, Ketogenic and Intermittent Fasting—the list goes on.
In all likelihood there’s that friend, relative or colleague you know who managed to shed a considerable amount of weight through intermittent fasting.
And so a new year begins in our fitness lives. We are given three 365 days with which to sweat, lift, jump, run and stretch—toward making amazing transformations. We owe it to ourselves to turn into better, fitter versions of the person staring back at us in the mirror.
The year 2017 may, or may not have been the year we achieved our fitness goals or sculpted out our ideal bodies. The desire to be fitter, better versions of ourselves is something ingrained in each and every one of us. Then comes an avalanche of varying priorities fighting for space in our lives, leaving a fitness program in the backburner.
The season of giving and feasting freely hands out excess pounds and extra inches around our waistlines. Even the most disciplined among us will sometimes have their knees buckle and occasionally give in to a night of overindulgence.
WE are thick into the season of endless feasting. This is quite evident from the all too familiar yuletide carols being blared out at malls and other public spaces. In the weeks to come, this will become all too apparent as our pants begin to tighten from attending all the parties and indulging in the Christmas treats sent our way by friends and well-wishers.
‘I’ll start working out one day.” This is something many of us murmur to ourselves when we are all by our lonesome, after stuffing ourselves into a coma at that incredibly irresistible all-you-can-eat buffet.
It’s the season when without remorse. We hop from one party to the other, sampling the most sinful goodies; from irresistible sweet treats to the Filipino Christmas staple, lechon (whole roasted pig). Our clothes fit a little snugger, and we loosen our belts by a notch or two.
THE benefits of cardiovascular exercise, such as running, swimming and walking, among others, are widely known. From helping us live longer to lifting our mood and helping fight off various diseases, cardio is in no need of a barker to harp on its positive effects on the human body.
The joy of that occasional sweet treat will, more often than not, make us break out into a smile and give us that unmistakable sugar rush.
FRENCH fries, doughnuts, processed cakes, pastries, biscuits and deep-fried foods—there is no argument that these go-to goodies are certified palate pleasers. Comfort food, if you may, to many of us.
The debate as to when is the best time to do cardiovascular exercise has several sides to it. Some schools of thought will say it is best done on an empty stomach, others will say a light snack before cardio for energy is ideal.
You’ve finally decided to take on the task of working on achieving that dream physique. The gym membership, the perfect diet, the training schedule and those wicked kick-ass trainers.
WE’VE all seen food items stacked on grocery shelves and health food stores prominently marked as “gluten-free”. So what really is gluten, and why do food manufacturers make a conscious effort to keep gluten out of certain food items?
We are under the impression that lifting heavy weights is the gateway to growing big muscle. The heavier we lift, the bigger our muscles.
At 1,400 pounds, Jon Brower Minnoch was one of the heaviest recorded human beings to ever live.
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